Information processing apparatus, system, and method

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus for providing position information of a transmission device that sends out a signal including identification information of the transmission device, includes a processor, in communication with a memory, executing a process including storing in one or more storages an identification information of the transmission device in association with an attribute information, a threshold corresponding to the attribute information for each one of the attribute information, and the position information of the transmission device in association with the identification information of the transmission device, correcting the position information using the stored attribute information or the threshold stored in the one or more storages, and displaying on a display the corrected position information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation patent application of, and claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/437,809filed on Feb. 21, 2017, which is based on and claims the benefit ofpriority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-040476, filed on Mar.2, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing system, and an information processing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are information processing systems for managing positioninformation of a terminal device, indoors or outdoors.

As a technology related to such an information processing system, forexample, there is known an information processing apparatus fordisplaying an indoor map or an outdoor map, with the use of a terminaldevice that can receive positioning signals for indoors and positioningsignals for outdoors (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By usingsuch a technology, a service of detecting identification informationsent out from a transmission device to detect the position informationof a user, may be provided in the future.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2014-59203

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides an information processingapparatus, a system, and a method in which one or more of theabove-described disadvantages are reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus for providing position information of atransmission device that sends out a signal including identificationinformation of the transmission device. The information processingapparatus includes a processor, in communication with a memory,executing a process including: storing in one or more storage anidentification information of the transmission device in associationwith an attribute information, a threshold corresponding to theattribute information for each one of the attribute information, and theposition information of the transmission device in association with theidentification information of the transmission device; correcting theposition information using the stored attribute information or thethreshold stored in the one or more storage; and displaying on a displaythe corrected position information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an informationproviding system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an image of an indoor facility according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an image of a floor according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an image of areas according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is for describing position information and provision informationaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a wirelesstag according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a detectiondevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a functional configuration of the informationproviding system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate examples of device information and positioninformation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A through 11C illustrate examples of chart information accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A through 12E illustrate examples of tag ID managementinformation and threshold information according to the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofregistering position information according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofproviding information according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts of examples of a process of correctingthe position information according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate examples of a menu screen according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a display screen of the provisioninformation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates another example of a display screen of the provisioninformation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a functional configuration of an informationproviding system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate examples of tag ID management informationand hospitalization information according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofproviding information according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of provision information according toanother embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the service of the related art, which is for detecting identificationinformation sent out from a transmission device to detect the positioninformation of a user, there have been the following cases.Specifically, there have been cases where the identification informationsent out from a transmission device is erroneously detected by a remotedetection device due to radio wave interference, etc., and incorrectposition information is stored. In this case, aberrant flow lines(movement paths) and erroneous present positions, etc., may be provided.

A problem to be solved by an embodiment of the present invention is toreduce the impact of incorrect position information on provisioninformation, in an information processing system for providing theprovision information based on position information within apredetermined time period of a transmission device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described by referring tothe accompanying drawings.

<System Configuration>

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an informationproviding system 100 according to an embodiment. The informationproviding system 100 is a system for managing position informationindicating a position of an information terminal 114 and a wireless tag124, by a management server 130 coupled to a network 140. Furthermore,the information providing system 100 uses the managed positioninformation to provide provision information including, for example, theflow line (movement path) and the present position, etc., of a usercarrying the information terminal 114 and the wireless tag 124, etc., toan information terminal 150 and a display device 160, etc.

(Example of First Configuration)

In the example of the first configuration indicated on the bottom leftof FIG. 1, a plurality of detection devices 121-1, 121-2, and so on, awireless gateway 112, and an external gateway 113, etc., are installedin an indoor facility 120 such as a building and a facility, etc. Notethat in the following description, “detection device 121” is used toindicate any one of the plurality of the detection devices 121-1, 121-2,and so on. Furthermore, the number of detection devices 121 in FIG. 1 isone example; the number of detection devices 121 may be another number.

The detection device 121 stores position identification (ID) unique toeach of the detection devices 121, and receives a tag ID sent from thewireless tag 124 held by a user 125. Furthermore, the detection device121 can communicate with the wireless gateway 112 by predeterminedwireless communication. The detection device 121 can communicate withthe management server 130 via the wireless gateway 112 and the externalgateway 113. When the detection device 121 receives (detects) a signalincluding the tag ID from the wireless tag 124, the detection device 121sends detection information including the tag ID included in thereceived signal and the position ID of the detection device 121 itself,to the management server 130.

The wireless gateway 112 is coupled to the external gateway 113. Thewireless gateway 112 is a relay device forming a wireless communicationnetwork together with the plurality of the detection devices 121, bypredetermined wireless communication.

The external gateway 113 is a relay device coupled to the network 140such as the Internet and a Local Area Network (LAN), etc., and one ormore of the wireless gateways 112.

The wireless gateway 112 and the external gateway 113 relay thecommunication between the plurality of the detection devices 121 and themanagement server 130. For example, the management server 130 is able tosend information to the plurality of the detection devices 121 via theexternal gateway 113 and the wireless gateway 112. Furthermore, thedetection device 121 is able to send information to the managementserver 130 via the wireless gateway 112 and the external gateway 113.

The wireless tag 124 (transmission device) is an active Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) tag that the user 125 carries or wears, as anemployee ID card, an ID card, and a wrist band, etc. The wireless tag124 is equipped with a built-in battery. The wireless tag 124 sendsradio waves (signals) including information (tag ID) recorded in thewireless tag 124, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

The management server 130 (information processing apparatus) is aninformation processing apparatus having a server function or a systemincluding a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

The management server 130 manages device information. In the deviceinformation, the position IDs of the plurality of the detection devices121 installed at the respective locations, and information items of thelocations where the respective detection devices 121 are installed (forexample, coordinate information, etc.), are stored in association witheach other. When the management server 130 receives the detectioninformation described above from the detection device 121, themanagement server 130 uses the stored device information to identify theinformation of the location where the detection device 121 is installed,that is, the position information of the wireless tag 124. Furthermore,the management server 130 stores and manages the identified positioninformation of the wireless tag 124 in a storage unit, in associationwith the detection time of the position information.

Furthermore, the management server 130 uses the position information ofthe wireless tag 124 stored in the storage unit to provide the provisioninformation including the flow line (movement path) and the presentposition, etc., of the wireless tag 124 (or the user 125 carrying thewireless tag 124, etc.), to the information terminal 150 and the displaydevice 160, etc., and to cause the information terminal 150 and thedisplay device 160 to display the provision information.

(Example of Second Configuration)

In the example of the second configuration indicated on the top left ofFIG. 1, a plurality of positioning devices 111-1, 111-2, and so on, thewireless gateway 112, and the external gateway 113, etc., are installedin an indoor facility 110 such as a building and a facility, etc. Notethat in the following description, “positioning device 111” is used toindicate any one of the plurality of positioning devices 111-1, 111-2,and so on. Furthermore, the number of positioning devices 111 in FIG. 1is one example; the number of positioning devices 111 may be anothernumber.

The positioning device 111 is a device for sending signals includingidentification information unique to each positioning device 111(hereinafter referred to as “position ID”) by near field communicationsuch as Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (hereinafterreferred to as “BLE”), and signals such as sound waves. Furthermore, thepositioning device 111 is able to communicate with the wireless gateway112 by predetermined wireless communication.

Preferably, the signals output by the positioning device 111 includeaccess information for acquiring the location information of thelocation where the positioning device 111 is installed (for example,encrypted Uniform Resource Locator (URL) information, etc.), in additionto the position ID.

The information terminal 114 (terminal device) is an informationterminal such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, and a tablet terminal,etc., that is held by a user 115. The information terminal 114 cancommunicate with the management server 130 by being coupled to thenetwork 140 by using wireless communication such as wireless LAN andLong Term Evolution (LTE), etc.

Furthermore, the information terminal 114 executes an applicationprogram (hereinafter referred to as “application”) for an informationterminal corresponding to the information providing system 100. Theinformation terminal 114 executes an application for an informationterminal to receive signals output from the positioning device 111 witha built-in BLE module or a microphone, etc., and to acquire informationsuch as the position ID and access information, etc., included in thereceived signals.

For example, when the information terminal 114 receives signals from thepositioning device 111-1, the information terminal 114 acquires theposition ID of the positioning device 111-1 included in the receivedsignals and access information for acquiring the location information ofthe location where the positioning device 111-1 is installed.

Furthermore, the information terminal 114 determines whether locationinformation of the location where the positioning device 111-1 isinstalled is stored in the storage unit, based on the acquiredinformation. For example, when the location information stored in thestorage unit does not include the position ID acquired from thepositioning device 111-1, the information terminal 114 determines thatthe location information of the location where the positioning device111-1 is installed is not stored.

When the information terminal 114 determines that the locationinformation of the location where the positioning device 111-1 isinstalled is not stored, the information terminal 114 uses the accessinformation, etc., acquired from the positioning device 111-1, torequest the management server 130 to acquire the location information ofthe location where the positioning device 111-1 is installed.

Preferably, in the access information acquired from the positioningdevice 111-1, information such as a URL, etc., for acquiring thelocation information of the location where the positioning device 111-1is installed is stored in an encrypted manner.

The management server 130 manages device information. In the deviceinformation, the position IDs of the plurality of positioning devices111 installed at the respective locations, and information items of thelocations where the respective positioning devices 111 are installed(for example, coordinate information, etc.), are stored in associationwith each other, for each of the plurality of locations. When themanagement server 130 receives, from the information terminal 114, anacquisition request to acquire the location information of the locationwhere the positioning device 111-1 is installed, the management server130 sends the location information of the location where the positioningdevice 111-1 is installed, to the information terminal 114.

Preferably, the location information includes the position IDs of all ofthe positioning devices 111 installed at the location where thepositioning device 111-1 is installed, and the coordinate information ofthe position where each positioning device 111 is installed.Furthermore, this location information includes detailed chartinformation of the location where the positioning device 111 isinstalled.

By this location information, the information terminal 114 is able touse the coordinate information of the positioning device 111 that isinstalled at the location where the positioning device 111-1 isinstalled, and detailed chart information. The information terminal 114uses the coordinate information of the positioning device 111 that isinstalled at the location where the positioning device 111-1 isinstalled, and detailed chart information, to acquire detailed positioninformation at the location where the positioning device 111-1 isinstalled.

Furthermore, when the information terminal 114 moves to a differentlocation, the information terminal 114 acquires the location informationof the different location, based on signals output from the positioningdevice 111 installed at the different location. Accordingly, theinformation terminal 114 can acquire detailed position information of alocation at which the information terminal 114 is positioned, at aplurality of locations.

The information terminal 114 sends the acquired position information ofthe information terminal 114 itself to the management server 130 atpredetermined time intervals (for example, at intervals of one second).The management server 130 stores and manages the position information ofthe information terminal 114 received from the information terminal 114,in the storage unit.

In the present embodiment, among the above two examples ofconfigurations, the example of the first configuration is mainlydescribed.

(Indoor Facility)

FIG. 2 illustrates an image of an indoor facility according to anembodiment. In the example of FIG. 2, an indoor facility 200 is abuilding including the three floors of a floor A 110-1, a floor B 110-2,and a floor C 110-3. As described above, the indoor facility 200 has oneor more floors.

Furthermore, a floor ID for identifying the floor is assigned to eachfloor. In the example of FIG. 2, a floor ID “FLR10001” is assigned tothe floor A 110-1, a floor ID “FLR10002” is assigned to the floor B110-2, and a floor ID “FLR10003” is assigned to the floor C 110-3.

Furthermore, the wireless gateway 112 and the plurality of the detectiondevices 121 are installed on each floor. For example, on the floor A110-1, the wireless gateway 112-1 and the plurality of the detectiondevices 121-1 a, 121-2 a, 121-3 a, and so on, are installed.Furthermore, the location where each of the detection devices 121 isinstalled is managed by three-dimensional coordinate informationincluding the height direction. This is because in the case oftwo-dimensional coordinate information, it is not possible todistinguish the positioning devices 111 installed on different floors.

Preferably, the coordinate information indicating the position where thedetection device 121 is installed is managed by absolute coordinates of,for example, the latitude, the longitude, and the altitude, etc.Accordingly, information of a plurality of facilities can be managed bya single coordinate system.

Note that, information indicating the floor number may be used as thecoordinate information in the height direction; however, in thisexample, it is assumed that the coordinate information in the altitudedirection is the altitude in units of meters, etc. By using the altitudeas the coordinate information in the height direction, for example, itis possible to use one type of altitude information to manage an indoorfacility having irregular floors such as a mezzanine, and a plurality offacilities having different floor heights.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless gateways 112-1, 112-2, and 112-3installed on each floor are coupled to the management server 130 via theexternal gateway 113.

(Floor)

FIG. 3 illustrates an image of a floor according to an embodiment. Inthe example of FIG. 3, the floor A 110-1 is an example of a floor in amedical facility such as a hospital. For example, a plurality of thedetection devices 121-1 through 121-23 are installed on the ceiling ofthe floor A 110-1.

Preferably, the detection devices 121-24 and 121-25 are respectivelyinstalled in the elevators A and B.

In FIG. 3, for example, it is assumed that the detection device 121-1installed in front of the reception receives signals including a tag IDfrom the wireless tag 124 inside a communication range 301 of thedetection device 121-1. Furthermore, each of the detection devices 121stores a position ID indicated in parenthesis. For example, thedetection device 121-1 stores a position ID “RID1001”.

(Areas)

FIG. 4 illustrates an image of areas according to an embodiment. In FIG.4, the floor A 110-1 is divided into a plurality of areas (regions). Toeach area, an area ID for identifying the area (AREA001 through AREA023)is assigned. Furthermore, each area corresponds to a communication range(a circle or an oval indicated by a dashed line) of the detection device121 corresponding the position ID indicated in parenthesis.

For example, the area, which corresponds to the area ID “AREA001” infront of the reception, corresponds to the communication range 301 ofthe detection device 121-1 having a position ID “RID1001” in FIG. 3.Similarly, the area, which corresponds to the area ID “AREA005” of aprivate room A, corresponds to the communication range of the detectiondevice 121-5 having a position ID “RID1004” in FIG. 3.

Note that the indoor facility 200, the floor 110-1, and the areasillustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 are merely examples.

(Position Information and Provision Information)

FIG. 5 is for describing the position information and the provisioninformation according to an embodiment. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that adoctor A502 who is carrying the wireless tag 124 walks into an elevatorA at the time 13 h 05 min 00 sec (hereinafter expressed as “13:05:00”),and arrives at floor A at the time “13:05:30”. Furthermore, it isassumed that the doctor A steps out of the elevator A, moves along apath indicated by an arrow 501, and arrives at a private room C at thetime “13:05:56”.

Furthermore, it is assumed that each of the detection devices 121 sendsdetection information including a tag ID of the detected wireless tag124 and the position ID of the detection device 121 itself, to themanagement server 130, every second.

At this time, for example, in the management server 130, positioninformation indicating that the doctor A502 (or the wireless tag 124)has been in the area having the area ID “AREA024” corresponding to theelevator A, from the time “13:05:00” to the time “13:05:30”.

Furthermore, for example, in the management server 130, positioninformation indicating that a doctor A has been in the area having thearea ID “AREA023”, from the time “13:05:32” to the time “13:05:37”.

However, in a system of detecting the position information of a user bydetecting a tag ID sent out by the wireless tag 124, due to radio waveinterference and reflections of radio waves, etc., there may be caseswhere a remote detection device 121 erroneously detects the tag ID ofthe wireless tag 124. In the following description, such positioninformation is referred to as “incorrect position information”.

In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that position information(example of incorrect position information), which indicates that, forexample, the doctor A has been in an area having an area ID “AREA021” atthe time “13:05:38”, is stored in the management server 130.

Furthermore, it is assumed that position information, which indicatesthat, for example, the doctor A has been in an area having an area ID“AREA015” during the time from “13:05:39” to “13:05:46”, is stored inthe management server 130.

Furthermore, it is assumed that position information, which indicatesthat, for example, the doctor A has been in an area having an area ID“AREA016” during the time from “13:05:48” to “13:05:54”, is stored inthe management server 130.

Next, it is assumed that position information, which indicates that, forexample, the doctor A has been in an area having an area ID “AREA007”during the time from “13:05:56” to “13:06:00”, is stored in themanagement server 130.

In this case, for example, by simply displaying the flow lineinformation of the doctor A from “13:05:00” through “13:06:00” by usingthe position information stored in the management server 130, forexample, a flow line including incorrect position information may bedisplayed, as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 5. Therefore, theinformation providing system 100 according to the present embodimentprovides flow line information (an example of provision information)from which such incorrect position information has been removed.

For example, the management server 130 stores in advance an attribute(for example, “person”) of the doctor A holding the wireless tag 124,and a threshold for each attribute (for example, the moving speed andthe movement distance, etc.). Furthermore, when the management server130 provides the provision information, the management server 130 makesa correction of setting position information whose attribute exceeds athreshold, as incorrect position information, and generates provisioninformation by removing the incorrect position information.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Furthermore, in another example, in FIG. 5, it is assumed that a patientB is hospitalized in a private room A, and that the patient B has beengazing outside from the window of the private room A during the timefrom “13:05:00” to “13:06:00”.

At this time, position information, which indicates that, for example,the patient B (or the wireless tag 124) has been in an area having anarea ID “AREA005” corresponding to the private room A during the timefrom “13:05:00” to “13:06:00”, is preferably stored in the managementserver 130.

However, as described above, in a system for detecting a tag ID sent outby the wireless tag 124 to detect position information of a user, due toradio wave interference and reflections of radio waves, etc., there maybe cases where a remote detection device 121 erroneously detects the tagID of the wireless tag 124. Here, for example, it is assumed that asignal sent by the wireless tag 124 of the patient B is reflected from abuilding, etc., outside the window, and the detection device 121-4located in the storage room erroneously detects the tag ID of thewireless tag 124.

For example, it is assumed that position information, which indicatesthat the patient B has been in an area (storage room) having an area ID“AREA004” during the time from “13:05:16” to “13:05:17” and during thetime from “13:05:58” to “13:06:00”, is stored in the management server130.

In this case, for example, when the present position of the patient B atthe time “13:06:00” is simply displayed by using the positioninformation stored in the management server 130, for example, presentposition information indicating that the patient B is in the storageroom, is displayed. Therefore, the information providing system 100according to the present embodiment provides present positioninformation (example of provision information) of the patient B, fromwhich the above-described incorrect position information has beenremoved.

In one example, the management server 130 provides information of thepresent position of the patient B, by using a plurality of positioninformation items of the patient B within the past 10 seconds from thepresent time (example of predetermined time period). For example, asdescribed above, the management server 130 uses the attribute of thepatient B holding the wireless tag 124 and a threshold of eachattribute, to determine that it is difficult for the patient B to comeand go between the private room A and the storage room within such ashort period of time. In this case, for example, the management server130 can determine that the position information of the area ID“RID1004”, which is rarely detected, is incorrect position information.

Furthermore, in another example, the management server 130 may storeanother attribute (for example, “patient”) of the patient B holding thewireless tag 124, and the threshold of this other attribute (forexample, the management level of areas in which the patient is allowedto enter), etc. For example, in FIG. 5, it is assumed that themanagement level of the storage room is “management level 3”, and thatthe management level of areas where the patient is able to enter is“management level 2”. In this case, the management server 130 candetermine the position information, which is detected in the storageroom where the management level exceeds “management level 2” that is themanagement level of areas where the patient is able to enter, asincorrect position information, among the position information items ofthe patient B.

As described above, the information providing system 100 according tothe present embodiment uses the attribute information and the thresholdinformation of the wireless tag 124 to generate provision informationfrom which incorrect position information has been removed, for example,when providing provision information such as the flow line informationand information of the present position, etc. Thus, according to thepresent embodiment, in the information providing system 100 forproviding provision information based on the position information of thewireless tag 124 within a predetermined time period, the impact ofincorrect position information on the provision information can bereduced.

<Hardware Configuration> (Hardware Configuration of Computer)

The management server 130 is formed by an information processingapparatus or a plurality of information processing apparatuses having aconfiguration of a general computer. Furthermore, the informationterminal 150 and the display device 160 have a configuration of ageneral computer. Here, a description is given of a hardwareconfiguration of a general computer.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computeraccording to an embodiment. A computer 600 includes, for example, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 601 (an example of a processor), a RAM (RandomAccess Memory) 602, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 603, a storage unit 604, anexternal interface (I/F) 605, an input unit 606, a display unit 607, anetwork I/F 608, and a bus 609, etc.

The CPU 601 is an arithmetic device for implementing various functionsof the computer 600, by loading the programs and data stored in the ROM603 and the storage unit 604, etc., into the RAM 602, and executingprocesses. The RAM 602 is a volatile memory used as a work area, etc.,of the CPU 601. The ROM 603 is a non-volatile memory for holdingprograms and data even after the power is turned off.

The storage unit 604 is a storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive)and SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and stores an OS (Operating System),an application program, and various kinds of data, etc.

The external I/F 605 is an interface between the computer 600 and anexternal device. An example of the external device is a recording medium610, etc. The computer 600 stores a predetermined program in therecording medium 610, and installs the program stored in the recordingmedium 610 in the computer 600 via the external I/F 605, such that thepredetermined program becomes executable.

The input unit 606 is an input device such as a pointing device, akeyboard, or a touch panel etc., and is used by the user for inputtingoperations in the computer 600.

The display unit 607 is a display device such as display, etc., anddisplays processing results, etc., by the computer 600.

The network I/F 608 is a communication interface, such as awired/wireless LAN, etc., for coupling the computer 600 to the network140.

The bus 609 is coupled to the respective elements described above, andtransmits address signals, data signals, and various control signals,etc.

(Hardware Configuration of Wireless Tag)

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of thewireless tag 124 according to an embodiment.

The wireless tag 124 includes, for example, a CPU 701 (an example of aprocessor), a RAM 702, a ROM 703, a near field wireless transmittingunit 704, and a bus 705, etc.

The CPU 701 is an arithmetic device for implementing various functionsof the wireless tag 124, by executing programs stored in the ROM 703,etc. The RAM 702 is a volatile memory used as a work area, etc., of theCPU 701. The ROM 703 is a non-volatile memory for storing programs,etc., of the wireless tag 124. The ROM 703 may be a rewritable,non-volatile memory such as a flash ROM and an EEPROM (ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), etc.

The near field wireless transmitting unit 704 includes, for example, atransmission circuit for sending predetermined wireless signals of RFID,etc., and an antenna, etc. An example of the predetermined wirelesssignals is weak radio of a 315 MHz band. In this case, the communicabledistance (reach distance) of the predetermined wireless signals sent outby the wireless tag 124 is, for example, approximately 10 m.

The bus 505 is coupled to the respective elements described above, andtransmits address signals, data signals, and various control signals,etc.

For example, in a case of managing the position information of a doctor,a nurse, and a patient, etc., at a hospital, the wireless tag 124 ispreferably incorporated in a wrist band worn on the wrist, etc., of thepatient being hospitalized. Furthermore, the wireless tag 124 carried bymedical service personnel such as a doctor and a nurse, etc., ispreferably incorporated in, for example, a name tag, a badge, an ID, awrist band, and a wearable terminal, etc., worn by the medical servicepersonnel.

Note that it is assumed that the wireless tag 124 sends a tag ID storedin advance in the ROM 703, by using the near field wireless transmittingunit 704, at predetermined time intervals (for example, at intervals ofone second).

(Hardware Configuration of Detection Device)

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of thedetection device 121 according to an embodiment. The detection device121 includes, for example, a CPU 801 (an example of a processor), a RAM802, a flash ROM 803, a wireless communication unit 804, a near fieldwireless receiving unit 805, and a bus 806, etc.

The CPU 801 is an arithmetic device for implementing various functionsof the detection device 121, by executing programs for the detectiondevice 121 stored in the flash ROM 803, etc. The RAM 802 is a volatilememory used as a work area, etc., of the CPU 801. The flash ROM 803 is anon-volatile memory for storing programs, etc., of the detection device121 and a position ID, etc.

The wireless communication unit 804 is a wireless communication devicefor communicating with the wireless gateway 112 by a predeterminedwireless communication method, and includes, for example, a transmissionreception circuit, and an antenna. For example, the wirelesscommunication unit 804 may use a wireless communication device ofvarious kinds of wireless communication methods, such as wireless LAN,Zigbee (registered trademark), or a specific power saving radio circuit(IEEE 802.15.4g) of a 920 MHz band, etc. Here, as one example, thefollowing description is given assuming that the wireless communicationunit 804 is a wireless communication device using a specific powersaving radio circuit of a 920 MHz band.

The specific power saving radio circuit of a 920 MHz band has arelatively low transmission speed of approximately 200 Kbps, compared towireless methods such as wireless LAN and Zigbee, etc., using the 2.4MHz band. On the other hand, by the specific power saving radio circuitof a 920 MHz band, data transmission can be performed up toapproximately several hundreds of meters at a consumption current ofapproximately several tens of milliamperes (mA). By this wirelessmethod, it is possible to send and receive data by saving power and bysingle hops, whereas in the case of, for example, Zigbee, wirelesscommunication is performed to a gateway by multiple hops.

The near field wireless receiving unit 805 is a wireless receivingdevice for receiving predetermined wireless signals sent from thewireless tag 124. For example, the near field wireless receiving unit805 includes a reception circuit and an antenna, etc.

The bus 806 is coupled to the respective elements described above, andtransmits address signals, data signals, and various control signals,etc.

First Embodiment <Functional Configuration>

FIG. 9 illustrates a functional configuration of the informationproviding system 100 according to a first embodiment. The informationproviding system 100 includes a plurality of the detection devices 121-1and 121-2, the wireless gateway 112, the external gateway 113, thewireless tag 124, and the management server 130, etc.

Preferably, the information providing system 100 includes an externalserver 960, the information terminal 150, and the display device 160,etc.

(Functional Configuration of Management Server)

The management server 130 includes a communication unit 911, a deviceinformation managing unit 912, a detection information receiving unit913, a position information identifying unit 914, a position informationmanaging unit 915, a chart information managing unit 916, a devicemanaging unit 917, a tag ID managing unit 918, a threshold informationmanaging unit 919, a provision information generating unit 920, adisplay control unit 921, and a storage unit 922.

The communication unit 911 is a means for coupling the management server130 to the network 140, and for performing communication with theexternal gateway 113, the external server 960, the information terminal150, and the display device 160, etc. The communication unit 911 isrealized by, for example, the network I/F 608 of FIG. 6 and programs,etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

The device information managing unit 912 manages device information 931,in which a position ID that is identification information unique to eachof a plurality of the detection devices 121 managed by the managementserver 130, and information of a location where each of the detectiondevices 121 is installed, are stored in association with each other. Thedevice information managing unit 912 is realized by, for example,programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6. An example of thedevice information 931 managed by the device information managing unit912 is illustrated in FIG. 10A.

In the example of FIG. 10A, the device information 931 includesinformation such as a “device ID”, a “device type”, a “floor ID”, an“area ID”, an “installation position”, and a “position ID”, etc.

The “device ID” is identification information for identifying thedetection device 121, and is a fixed ID that is not rewritten. The“device type” indicates, for example, the type of the detection device121. “RFID” indicates that the detection device 121 is a device fordetecting the wireless tag 124 by using RFID communication. The “floorID” is identification information for identifying the floor on which thedetection device 121 is installed. The “area ID” is identificationinformation for identifying the area in which the detection device 121is installed. The “installation position” is coordinate information ofthe location where the detection device 121 is installed. In the presentembodiment, the coordinate information is expressed by the latitude, thelongitude, and the altitude. The “floor ID”, the “area ID”, and the“installation position” are examples of information of the locationwhere the positioning device 111 is installed.

The “position ID” is identification information unique to the detectiondevice 121, and is a variable ID that is changed, for example, atpredetermined time intervals (at intervals of 24 hours, etc.), by thedevice managing unit 917. The detection device 121 sends, to themanagement server 130, detection information including the tag IDincluded in a signal sent from the wireless tag 124 and the position IDof the detection device 121.

The device information managing unit 912 stores the device information931, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, in the storage unit 922,and manages the device information 931. Alternatively, the deviceinformation managing unit 912 may store the device information 931 in anexternal storage means (for example, the external server 960, etc.), andmanage the device information 931.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the description of the functionalconfiguration of the management server 130 is continued.

The detection information receiving unit 913 (detection informationreceiver) is a means for receiving detection information including theposition ID of the detection device 121 and the detected tag ID, sentfrom the detection device 121. The detection information receiving unit913 is realized by, for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601of FIG. 6.

The position information identifying unit 914 (position informationidentifier) identifies the position information of the wireless tag 124,based on the detection information received by the detection informationreceiving unit 913 and the device information 931 illustrated in, forexample, FIG. 10A. The position information identifying unit 914 isrealized by, for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 ofFIG. 6.

For example, when the received detection information includes a positionID “RID1101”, the position information identifying unit 914 acquires,from the device information 931 illustrated in FIG. 10A, the floor ID,the area ID, and the installation position corresponding to the positionID “RID1101”. The position information identifying unit 914 identifiesthe acquired floor ID, area ID, and installation position, as theposition information of the wireless tag 124 corresponding to the tag IDincluded in the detection information. Note that the floor ID, the areaID, and the installation position are examples of position information.

The position information managing unit 915 (position informationstorage) stores the position information of the wireless tag 124identified by the position information identifying unit 914, in positioninformation 932 in association with the tag ID and the detection time ofthe wireless tag 124, and manages the position information. The positioninformation managing unit 915 is realized by, for example, programs,etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

Preferably, the position information managing unit 915 stores theposition information of the wireless tag 124 identified by the positioninformation identifying unit 914 in time series according to the passageof time, and manages the position information.

An example of the position information 932 managed by the positioninformation managing unit 915 is illustrated in FIG. 10B. In the exampleof FIG. 10B, the position information 932 includes information such as a“tag ID”, a “detection time”, a “floor ID”, an “area ID”, and“coordinate information”, etc.

The “tag ID” is identification information unique to the wireless tag124 included in a signal sent by the wireless tag 124.

The “detection time” is information indicating the time of detecting orpositioning the position information of the wireless tag 124. Thedetection time may be, for example, the time when the detectioninformation receiving unit 913 has received the detection information,or the time when the position information managing unit 915 has storedthe position information, etc.

The “floor ID” is the floor ID of the floor where the wireless tag 124has been detected. The “area ID” is the area ID of the area where thewireless tag 124 has been detected. The “coordinate information” iscoordinate information indicating the position where the wireless tag124 has been detected, and is expressed by, for example, the latitude,the longitude, and the altitude.

The position information managing unit 915 stores the positioninformation 932, for example, illustrated in FIG. 10B, in the storageunit 922, and manages the position information 932. Alternatively, theposition information managing unit 915 may store the positioninformation 932 in an external storage means (for example, the externalserver 960, etc.), and manage the position information 932.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the description of the functionalconfiguration of the management server 130 is continued.

The chart information managing unit 916 is a means for managing chartinformation 933 including various kinds of information relevant to achart. The chart information managing unit 916 is realized by, forexample, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

Examples of the chart information 933 managed by the chart informationmanaging unit 916 are illustrated in FIGS. 11A through 11C. In theexamples of FIGS. 11A through 11C, the chart information 933 includesfloor information 1101, area information 1102, and map information 1103.

FIG. 11A illustrates an example of the floor information 1101. In theexample of FIG. 11A, the floor information 1101 includes informationsuch as a “floor ID”, a “floor name”, a “floor number”, and the“altitude”, etc.

The “floor ID” is identification information for identifying each floor.The “floor name” is the name of each floor. The “floor number” isinformation indicating the floor number of each floor. The “altitude” isinformation indicating the altitude of each floor, for example, inmeters.

FIG. 11B illustrates an example of the area information 1102. The areainformation 1102 is information of areas included in each floor. In theexample of FIG. 11B, the area information 1102 includes information suchas a “floor ID”, an “area ID”, an “area name”, an “area type”, a “mapID”, and “area width×depth”, etc.

The “floor ID” is identification information for identifying each floor.The “area ID” is identification information of each area included in thefloor. The “area name” is information indicating the name of each area.

The “area type” is information indicating the type of each area. In theexample of FIG. 11B, the management level is stored as the “area type”.An area having a management level 1 is, for example, an area where allof the patients can freely enter and exit. Furthermore, an area having amanagement level 2 is an area where basically only particular patientscan enter and exit. Furthermore, an area having a management level 3 is,for example, an area where patients cannot enter. Note that themanagement level is an example of an area type.

The “map ID” is identification information for identifying map data (forexample, an image file of a chart) corresponding to each area. The “areawidth×depth” is information indicating the size of the area.

FIG. 11C illustrates an example of the map information 1103. The mapinformation 1103 is information of map data (chart data) correspondingto each area. In the example of FIG. 11C, the map information 1103includes information such as a “map ID”, an “image file URL”, a“standard point (latitude and longitude)”, a “relative position (xdirection and y direction)”, a “scale”, and a “rotation angle”, etc.

The “map ID” is identification information for identifying map data. The“image file URL” is URL information (example of reference information)for acquiring map data. The “standard point (latitude and longitude)” isinformation indicating the standard point of the map data. The “relativeposition (x direction and y direction)” is information indicating theposition with respect to the standard point in the map data. The “scale”is information indicating the scale of the map data. The “rotationangle” is information indicating the rotation angle of the map data.

Note that the floor information 1101, the area information 1102, and themap information 1103 illustrated in FIGS. 11A through 11C are examplesof the chart information 933 managed by the chart information managingunit 916. For example, the “image file URL” in the map information 1103may be the object storing the image file, instead of URL information.

Note that the acquisition destination of an image file indicated by the“image file URL” of the map information 1103 may be the managementserver 130, or a cloud (for example, the external server 960, etc.)other than the management server 130.

When the acquisition destination of an image file indicated by the“image file URL” is the management server 130, the chart informationmanaging unit 916 further stores the image file of the map data in thestorage unit 922, and manages the image file.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the description of the functionalconfiguration of the management server 130 is continued.

The device managing unit 917 is a means for managing a plurality of thedetection devices 121 included in the information providing system 100.The device managing unit 917 is realized by, for example, programs,etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

The device managing unit 917 changes the position ID of the deviceinformation 931 illustrated in FIG. 10A, and reports the changedposition ID to each of the detection devices 121, for example, atpredetermined time intervals (at intervals of 24 hours, etc.).

In another example, the device managing unit 917 may change anencryption key for encrypting the position ID, instead of changing theposition ID, and report the changed encryption key to each of thedetection devices 121.

The tag ID managing unit 918 (correspondence relationship storage) is ameans for storing the correspondence relationship between the tag ID ofthe wireless tag 124 and attribute information that is information ofthe holding subject that is holding the wireless tag 124. The tag IDmanaging unit 918 is realized by, for example, programs, etc., executedby the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

For example, the tag ID managing unit 918 stores the tag ID of thewireless tag 124 and attribute information of the person carrying thewireless tag 124 or an object to which the wireless tag 124 is attachedin association with each other in tag ID management information 934, andmanages this information. Alternatively, the tag ID managing unit 918may store the tag ID management information 934 in an external storagemeans (for example, the external server 960, etc.), and manage the tagID management information 934.

In the above descriptions, the holding subject that is holding thewireless tag 124 is a person such as a doctor, a nurse, and a patient,etc.; however, the holding subject of the wireless tag 124 may be anobject such as a bed or medical equipment, etc.

The threshold information managing unit 919 (threshold storage) is ameans for storing a threshold defining a predetermined valuecorresponding to each attribute information item, with respect to eachattribute information item. The threshold information managing unit 919is realized by, for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 ofFIG. 6.

For example, the threshold information managing unit 919 stores athreshold for each attribute information item in threshold information935 in the storage unit 922. Alternatively, the threshold informationmanaging unit 919 may store the threshold information 935 in an externalstorage means (for example, the external server 960, etc.), and managethe threshold information 935.

FIGS. 12A through 12E illustrate examples of the tag ID managementinformation 934 and the threshold information 935 according to the firstembodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B respectively illustrate examples of the tag IDmanagement information 934 and the threshold information 935. In theexample of FIG. 12A, the tag ID management information 934 includesinformation such as a “tag ID”, “attribute information”, and a “name”,etc.

The “tag ID” is identification information of the wireless tag 124. The“attribute information” is information of the holding subject that isholding the wireless tag 124. In the example of FIG. 12A, attributessuch as person, bed, equipment 1, and equipment 2, etc., are indicated.The “name” is information indicating the name of the holding subjectthat is holding the wireless tag 124. Note that attribute informationitems such as person, bed, equipment 1, and equipment 2, etc., areexamples.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 12B, the threshold information 935includes information such as “attribute information” and “threshold”,etc. In the threshold information 935, a threshold is stored for eachattribute information item. In the example of FIG. 12B, the threshold isexpressed by threshold of a moving speed.

The management server 130 can determine that position information, whichindicates a moving speed exceeding the threshold “moving speed of lessthan or equal to 5 m/s” corresponding to “person”, is incorrect positioninformation, when the attribute information of the wireless tag 124 is“person”.

FIGS. 12C through 12E respectively illustrate other examples of the tagID management information 934 and the threshold information 935. In theexample of FIG. 12C, the tag ID management information 934 includesinformation such as a “tag ID”, “attribute information 1”, “attributeinformation 2”, and a “name”, etc. In addition to the information in thetag ID management information 934 illustrated in FIG. 12A, the tag IDmanagement information 934 illustrated in FIG. 12C includes aninformation item of “attribute information 2”. In this way, the tag IDmanagement information 934 may include a plurality of attributeinformation items.

In the example of FIG. 12C, the attribute information 2 furtherclassifies “person” of the attribute information 1 into the attributesof doctor, patient, and nurse.

Furthermore, the examples of FIGS. 12D and 12E include thresholdinformation 935 a and threshold information 935 b respectivelycorresponding to the attribute information 1 and the attributeinformation 2. Among these, the threshold information 935 a is the sameinformation as the threshold information 935 indicated in FIG. 12B.

Furthermore, in the threshold information 935 b, a threshold of amanagement level is stored for each of the attribute information items2. In this example, when the position information of “patient” inattribute information 2 is detected in an area (for example, an areahaving a management level 3) having a management level that exceeds thethreshold “less than or equal to management level 2”, the positioninformation can be determined as incorrect position information.

The provision information generating unit 920 (provision informationgenerator) corrects the position information of the wireless tag 124stored in the position information 932 by the position informationmanaging unit 915, by using attribute information corresponding to thewireless tag 124 or a threshold corresponding to attribute information,to generate provision information to be provided by the managementserver 130. The provision information generating unit 920 is realizedby, for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

For example, the provision information generating unit 920 determines,as incorrect position information, position information that exceeds thethreshold corresponding to the wireless tag 124, among the positioninformation items of the wireless tag 124 stored in the positioninformation 932 by the position information managing unit 915.Furthermore, the provision information generating unit 920 createsprovision information by removing incorrect position information fromthe position information of the wireless tag 124 stored in the positioninformation 932 by the position information managing unit 915.

The display control unit 921 (display controller) is a means fordisplaying the provision information generated by the provisioninformation generating unit 920, on the information terminal 150 and thedisplay device 160, etc. The display control unit 921 is realized by,for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6. Forexample, the display control unit 921 sends the provision informationgenerated by the provision information generating unit 920, to a webbrowser 151 of the information terminal 150 or a web browser 161 of thedisplay device 160, to have the provision information displayed.

The storage unit 922 stores, for example, the device information 931,the position information 932, the chart information 933, the tag IDmanagement information 934, and the threshold information 935, etc.,described above. The storage unit 922 is realized by, for example, thestorage unit 604 of FIG. 6 and programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601of FIG. 6. For example, the storage unit 922 may be provided in a serverdevice (for example, the external server 960, etc.) other than themanagement server 130, or in a database server or a storage server inthe management server 130, etc.

Note that the configuration of the management server 130 illustrated inFIG. 9 is one example; the elements included in the management server130 may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses.

(Functional Configuration of Detection Device)

The detection device 121 (detection devices 121-1 and 121-2) includes acommunication unit 941, a device information storage unit 942, adetection information sending unit 943, and a signal receiving unit 944,etc.

The communication unit 941 is a means for communicating with themanagement server 130, for example, via the wireless gateway 112 and theexternal gateway 113. The communication unit 941 is realized by, forexample, the wireless communication unit 804 of FIG. 8 and programs,etc., executed by the CPU 801 of FIG. 8.

Note that the configuration in which the communication unit 941communicates with the management server 130 via the wireless gateway 112and the external gateway 113 is one example. The communication unit 941may have another configuration as long as communication can be performedwith the management server 130.

The device information storage unit 942 is a means for storing theposition ID, etc., reported from the management server 130. The deviceinformation storage unit 942 is realized by, for example, the flash ROM803 of FIG. 8 and programs, etc., executed by the CPU 801 of FIG. 8.

The detection information sending unit 943 sends detection informationincluding the tag ID of the wireless tag 124 included in the signalreceived by the signal receiving unit 944, and the position ID stored inthe device information storage unit 942, to the management server 130via the communication unit 941. The detection information sending unit943 is realized by, for example, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 801of FIG. 8.

The signal receiving unit 944 receives the signal (radio wave) includingthe tag ID of the wireless tag 124 sent from the wireless tag 124, andreports the tag ID included in the received signal, to the detectioninformation sending unit 943. The signal receiving unit 944 is realizedby, for example, the near field wireless receiving unit 805 of FIG. 8and programs, etc., executed by the CPU 801 of FIG. 8.

(Other Functional Configurations)

The wireless tag 124 sends a tag ID that is identification informationunique to the wireless tag 124 at predetermined time intervals (forexample, at intervals of one second).

The functions of the external gateway 113 and the wireless gateway 112are to relay the communication between the management server 130 and thedetection device 121.

The external server 960 is an example of a server device (for example, acloud service, etc.) other than the management server 130, coupled tothe network 140.

The information terminal 150 is an information processing apparatus suchas a personal computer (PC) and a tablet terminal, etc. For example, theuser uses the web browser 151 to access the management server 130, todisplay the provision information provided by the management server 130.

The display device 160 is a display device such as a television set or adigital signage panel, etc., including the web browser 161.

<Process Flow>

Next, a description is given of a process flow of an informationprocessing method performed by the information providing system 100.

(Process of Registering Position Information)

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofregistering position information according to the first embodiment.

Note that it is assumed that the wireless tag 124 is sending signalsincluding the tag ID of the wireless tag 124 at a first time interval(for example, at intervals of one second). Furthermore, it is assumedthat the detection devices 121-1 and 121-2 are continuously receivingsignals sent from the wireless tag 124, and the detection devices 121-1and 121-2 are sending detection information to the management server 130at a second time interval (for example, at intervals of one second).

Furthermore, the wireless gateway 112 and the external gateway 113 aremerely for relaying the information, and are thus omitted from thedrawings and descriptions.

In step S1301, the wireless tag 124 sends a signal including the tag IDof the wireless tag 124.

In step S1302, the detection device 121-1, which has received the signalsent from the wireless tag 124, sends detection information includingthe tag ID included in the received signal and the position ID of thedetection device 121-1 itself, to the management server 130.

In step S1303, the detection information receiving unit 913 of themanagement server 130 receives the detection information sent from thedetection device 121-1, and reports the received detection informationto the position information identifying unit 914.

In step S1304, the position information identifying unit 914 of themanagement server 130 identifies the position information of thedetection device 121-1 that has sent the detection information, that is,the position information of the wireless tag 124, based on the positionID included in the detection information and the device information 931.For example, the position information identifying unit 914 extracts,from the device information 931 as illustrated in FIG. 10A, the positioninformation (for example, the installation position, the floor ID, andthe area ID, etc.) corresponding to the positon ID included in thedetection information.

In step S1305, the position information identifying unit 914 reports aregistration request to request the registration of the positioninformation of the wireless tag 124 identified in step S1304, to theposition information managing unit 915. The registration request toregister the position information includes, for example, the tag ID ofthe wireless tag 124 included in the detection information, thepositioning time, and the position information of the wireless tag 124identified in step S1304, etc.

Note that the positioning time included in the registration request toregister the position information may be sent by being added to thedetection information when the detection device 121-1 sends thedetection information, or may be information of the time when thedetection information receiving unit 913 receives the detectioninformation from the detection device 121-1.

In step S1306, the position information managing unit 915 of themanagement server 130 stores the position information of the wirelesstag 124 in the position information 932, for example, illustrated inFIG. 10B, stored in the storage unit 922, etc., based on theregistration request to register the position information from theposition information identifying unit 914.

In step S1307, the wireless tag 124 sends a signal including the tag IDof the wireless tag 124. At this time, it is assumed that the user 125of the wireless tag 124 has moved to a different position, and thesignal sent by the wireless tag 124 is received by the detection device121-2.

In step S1308, the detection device 121-2, which has received the signalsent from the wireless tag 124, sends detection information includingthe tag ID included in the received signal and the position ID of thedetection device 121-2 itself, to the management server 130.

In step S1309, the detection information receiving unit 913 of themanagement server 130 receives the detection information sent from thedetection device 121-2, and reports the received detection informationto the position information identifying unit 914.

In step S1310, the position information identifying unit 914 of themanagement server 130 identifies the position information of thedetection device 121-2 that has sent the detection information, that is,the position information of the wireless tag 124, based on the positionID included in the detection information and the device information 931.

In step S1311, the position information identifying unit 914 reports aregistration request to request the registration of the positioninformation of the wireless tag 124 identified in step S1310, to theposition information managing unit 915.

In step S1312, the position information managing unit 915 of themanagement server 130 stores the position information of the wirelesstag 124 in the position information 932 stored in the storage unit 922,etc., based on the registration request to register the positioninformation from the position information identifying unit 914.

By the above process, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the tagID of the wireless tag 124, the detection time, and the positioninformation of the wireless tag (coordinate information, a floor ID, anarea ID, etc.) are stored in the position information 932 in associationwith each other.

(Process of Providing Information)

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofproviding information according to the first embodiment.

The management server 130 uses the position information 932 stored bythe process of FIG. 13 to provide the provision information fordisplaying the present position and the past flow lines, etc., of theuser 125 carrying the wireless tag 124.

In step S1401, the user performs an operation of displaying the menuscreen on the information terminal 150. For example, the user selects apredetermined URL with the web browser 151 of the information terminal150, to perform the operation of displaying the menu screen. Note thatthe dashed line arrows in FIG. 14 indicate operations by the user.

In step S1402, the web browser 151 of the information terminal 150 sendsa request to acquire the menu screen, to the display control unit 921(web server) of the management server 130.

In step S1403, the display control unit 921 of the management server 130sends the requested menu screen to the information terminal 150 that isthe request source.

In step S1404, the web browser 151 of the information terminal 150displays the menu screen received from the management server 130, on thedisplay unit 607. An example of the menu screen displayed by the webbrowser 151 at this time is illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B.

FIG. 16A illustrates an example of a menu screen displayed by the webbrowser 151. In a menu screen 1610, a pull-down menu 1611 of provisioninformation for selecting the provision information to be displayed, anda pull-down menu 1612 of a display target for selecting a displaytarget, etc., are displayed. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 16A,“display present position+flow line” is selected as the provisioninformation. In this case, a pull-down menu 1613 of a period ofdisplaying the flow line, for selecting the time period of displayingthe flow line, etc., is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 16A, as the user selects a “display information”button 1614, the present position of a doctor A and the flow line of thepast one minute are displayed as the provision information.

FIG. 16B illustrates another example of a menu screen displayed by theweb browser 151. In a menu screen 1620, similar to the menu screen ofFIG. 16A, a pull-down menu 1621 of provision information and a pull-downmenu 1622 of a display target, etc., are displayed. Furthermore, in theexample of FIG. 16B, “display present position in real-time manner” isselected as the provision information, and “all patients” is selected asa display target. In this case, a pull-down menu 1623 of a display floorfor selecting the floor to be displayed, etc., is displayed in the menuscreen 1620.

In the example of FIG. 16B, as the user selects a “display information”button 1624, the present positions of all of the patients on floor A aredisplayed as the provision information.

Referring back to FIG. 14, the description of the sequence diagram ofthe process of providing information is continued.

In step S1405, the user performs an operation of selecting the provisioninformation with respect to the menu screen, for example, illustrated inFIG. 16A.

In step S1406, the web browser 151 of the information terminal 150accepts the selection operation by the user, and reports the informationof the accepted operation, to the management server 130. At this time,the information of the operation reported to the management server 130includes information such as the display target and the displaycondition, etc., selected in step S1405.

In step S1407, the display control unit 921 reports the operationinformation including information such as the display target and thedisplay condition, etc., received from the information terminal 150, tothe provision information generating unit 920.

In step S1408, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires attribute information of the tag ID thatis the display target from the tag ID management information 934 in thestorage unit 922, based on the information such as the display targetand the display condition, etc., included in the request to generate theprovision information.

For example, in step S1405, it is assumed that “doctor A” has beenselected as the display target as illustrated in the menu screen 1610 ofFIG. 16A. In this case, the provision information generating unit 920acquires the attribute information “person” of the tag ID “TAG0001”corresponding to “doctor A”, from the tag ID management information 934,for example, illustrated in FIG. 12A.

In step S1409, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires, from the threshold information 935 inthe storage unit 922, the threshold information corresponding to theattribute information acquired in step S1408. For example, when theattribute information acquired in step S1408 is “person”, the provisioninformation generating unit 920 acquires the threshold “moving speed ofless than or equal to 5 m/s” corresponding to the attribute information“person”, from the threshold information 935 illustrated in FIG. 12B.

In step S1410, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires position information of the displaytarget from the position information 932 in the storage unit 922, basedon the information such as the display target and the display condition,etc., included in the generation request to generate the provisioninformation. For example, when “doctor A” (tag ID “TAG0001”) is selectedas the display target, the provision information generating unit 920acquires the position information of tag ID “TAG0001” from the positioninformation 932, for example, illustrated in FIG. 10B.

In step S1411, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires chart information from the chartinformation 933 in the storage unit 922, based on the floor ID includedin the position information acquired in step S1410. Note that when thechart information does not include chart data, but only includesreference information (URL information, etc.) for acquiring the chartdata, the provision information generating unit 920 also acquires thechart data based on the reference information.

In step S1412, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 uses the acquired attribute information and thethreshold information, etc., to execute a correction process ofcorrecting the acquired position information.

In step S1413, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 generates the provision information by using theposition information that has been subjected to the correction process.

For example, in steps S1412 and S1413, among the acquired positioninformation, the provision information generating unit 920 identifiesposition information exceeding the range of the threshold information asincorrect position information, and generates the provision informationfrom which the incorrect position information has been removed.

In step S1414, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 reports the generated provision information to thedisplay control unit 921.

In step S1415, the display control unit 921 of the management server 130sends the provision information generated by the provision informationgenerating unit 920, to the information terminal 150, and causes theinformation terminal 150 to display the provision information.

In step S1416, the information terminal 150 displays a display screen ofthe provision information sent from the management server 130.

(Process of Correcting Position Information)

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts of examples of a process of correctingthe position information according to the first embodiment. Theseprocesses of correcting the position information correspond to theprocess of step S1412 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 15A illustrates an example of a process of correcting the positioninformation in a case where the threshold is the moving speed.

In step S1511, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires position information of a predeterminedtime period to be used for generating the provision information.

For example, when the present position and a flow line of one minute ofthe doctor A are selected as the provision information in, for example,the menu screen 1610 of FIG. 16A, the provision information generatingunit 920 acquires the position information of latest one minute, amongthe position information items corresponding to the tag ID of the doctorA.

In step S1512, the provision information generating unit 920 determineswhether there is position information whose moving speed exceeds athreshold (for example, “moving speed of less than or equal to 5 m/s”),among the acquired position information.

When there is position information whose moving speed exceeds athreshold, in step S1513, the provision information generating unit 920determines the position information whose moving speed exceeds athreshold, as incorrect position information. On the other hand whenthere is no position information whose moving speed exceeds a threshold,the provision information generating unit 920 ends the process.

By the above process, for example, the position information, which isdetected at a position to which a person cannot move by a generalwalking speed, such as the position information of a doctor A502 at thetime “13:05:38” in FIG. 5, is determined to be incorrect positioninformation.

Furthermore, the provision information generating unit 920 createsprovision information, by removing incorrect position information fromthe position information items within a predetermined time period.Accordingly, the management server 130 can cause the informationterminal 150 to display the display screen of the provision information,for example, as illustrated in FIG. 17.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a display screen of the provisioninformation according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 17, presently, ina display screen 1700 of provision information, a present position 1702of a doctor A and a flow line 1703 of the doctor A in the past oneminute are displayed on a floor map 1701 of a floor A that is the floorwhere the doctor A is presently located. According to the presentembodiment, as described above, the management server 130 can reduce theimpact of incorrect position information on the provision information.

FIG. 15B illustrates an example of a process of correcting the positioninformation in a case where the thresholds are the moving speed and themanagement level of a floor. This process is an example of a case wherethere are two attribute information items and two thresholds withrespect to one tag ID, as in the tag ID management information 934, thethreshold information items 935 a and 935 b of FIGS. 12D and 12E.

In step S1521, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 acquires position information of a predeterminedtime period to be used for generating the provision information.

For example, when the present positions of all patients on a floor A areselected as the provision information in the menu screen 1610 of FIG.16B, the provision information generating unit 920 acquires the positioninformation of the latest 10 seconds (example of predetermined timeperiod) of all patients. This information is acquired because, forexample, if only the latest position information is used to display thepresent position of the patient B in FIG. 5, a failure may occur in thatthe present position of the patient B is displayed in the storage roomor the private room A, or the patient B may not be displayed. Note that10 seconds as the predetermined time period is one example, and thepredetermined time period may be any other length of time.

In step S1522, the provision information generating unit 920 determineswhether there is position information whose management level of the areaexceeds a threshold (for example, a patient's threshold of “less than orequal to management level 2”), among the acquired position information.

For example, the provision information generating unit 920 identifiesthe management level of the area corresponding to each positioninformation item, based on the “area ID” included in the positioninformation and the “area type” included in the area information 1102 ofthe chart information illustrated in FIG. 11B. Furthermore, theprovision information generating unit 920 determines whether there isposition information whose management level of the area corresponding tothe identified position information exceeds a patient's threshold “lessthan or equal to management level 2”.

When there is no position information whose management level of the areaexceeds a threshold, the provision information generating unit 920shifts the process to step S1524. On the other hand, when there isposition information whose management level of the area exceeds athreshold, the provision information generating unit 920 shifts theprocess to step S1523.

When the process shifts to step S1523, the provision informationgenerating unit 920 determines the position information whose managementlevel of the area exceeds a threshold, as incorrect positioninformation. For example, when the patient's threshold is “less than orequal to management level 2”, but the management level of the area wherethe position information of the patient has been detected is “3”, theprovision information generating unit 920 determines this positioninformation as incorrect position information.

When the process shifts to step S1524, the provision informationgenerating unit 920 determines whether there is position informationwhose moving speed exceeds a threshold (for example, “moving speed ofless than or equal to 5 m/s”), among the acquired position information.

When there is position information whose moving speed exceeds athreshold, in step S1525, the provision information generating unit 920determines the position information whose moving speed exceeds athreshold, as incorrect position information. On the other hand whenthere is no position information whose moving speed exceeds a threshold,the provision information generating unit 920 ends the process.

By the above process, for example, in FIG. 5, the position informationof a patient B detected in the storage room is determined to beincorrect position information, when the management level of the storageroom is “management level 3” and the patient's threshold is “less thanor equal to management level 2”.

Furthermore, the provision information generating unit 920 createsprovision information, by removing incorrect position information fromthe position information items within a predetermined time period.Accordingly, the management server 130 can cause the informationterminal 150 to display the display screen of the provision information,for example, as illustrated in FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 illustrates another example of a display screen of the provisioninformation according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 18, presently, ina display screen 1800 of provision information, the present positions ofa plurality of patients including a patient B 1902 are displayed on afloor map 1801 of a floor A. Furthermore, the latest positioninformation of the patient B is the storage room; however, the incorrectposition information detected in the storage room has been removed, andthe displayed provision information indicates that the patient B is inthe private room A.

Note that the storage room of FIG. 18 is one example; the same effectscan be achieved by setting a management level of greater than or equalto 3 for areas where the patient cannot enter, such as an operation roomand a medical staff waiting room, etc.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the informationproviding system 100 for providing provision information based onposition information of the wireless tag 124 within a predetermined timeperiod, and the management server 130 (information processing apparatus)by which the impact of the incorrect position information on theprovision information can be reduced, can be provided.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, a description is given of an example of a casewhere the management server 130, which manages the position informationof the wireless tag 124, provides the provision information. However, ina second embodiment, a description is given of an example of a casewhere an information providing server, which is provided separately fromthe management server 130, provides the provision information.

<Functional Configuration>

FIG. 19 illustrates a functional configuration of an informationproviding system 1900 according to the second embodiment. In theinformation providing system 1900 according to the second embodimentillustrated in FIG. 19, the functions of the management server 130according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 are provided ina distributed manner in a position information management server 1920and an information providing server 1910.

Note that the hardware of the position information management server1920 and the information providing server 1910 is configured by, forexample, the computer 600 as illustrated in FIG. 6, or by a plurality ofthe computers 600.

(Position Information Management Server)

The position information management server 1920 includes, for example,the communication unit 911, the device information managing unit 912,the detection information receiving unit 913, the position informationidentifying unit 914, the position information managing unit 915, andthe storage unit 922, etc., of the management server 130 according tothe first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9. Similar to the managementserver 130 according to the first embodiment, the position informationmanagement server 1920 stores the position information of a plurality ofwireless tags 124, etc., in the storage unit 922, and manages theposition information.

Furthermore, it is assumed that the position information managementserver 1920 provides requested position information to the requestsource, in response to a request to acquire position information fromthe information providing server 1910.

Note that in the present embodiment, the position information managed bythe position information management server 1920 is referred to as“position information A1921”, and the position information managed bythe information providing server 1910 is referred to as “positioninformation a1914” to distinguish these position information items.

It is assumed that the position information A1921 stores the sameinformation as that stored in the position information 932 of themanagement server 130 according to the first embodiment.

(Information Providing Server)

The information providing server 1910 includes the communication unit911, the chart information managing unit 916, the tag ID managing unit918, the threshold information managing unit 919, the provisioninformation generating unit 920, and the display control unit 921, etc.,among the elements of the management server 130 according to the firstembodiment illustrated in FIG. 9.

Furthermore, the information providing server 1910 includes a positioninformation acquiring unit 1911 and a hospitalization informationmanaging unit 1912, etc.

The position information acquiring unit 1911 acquires positioninformation necessary for generating the provision information, from theposition information management server 1920, and stores the acquiredposition information in the position information a1914 in a storage unit1913. The position information acquiring unit 1911 is realized by, forexample, programs, etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

The hospitalization information managing unit 1912 stores, for example,the information of a hospital room, etc., of a patient hospitalized in ahospital, etc., in hospitalization information 1915 in the storage unit1913, and manages the information. Alternatively, the hospitalizationinformation managing unit 1912 may acquire the hospitalizationinformation 1915 necessary for generating the provision information,from a medical information management server (for example, the externalserver 960) managing medical information. The hospitalizationinformation managing unit 1912 is realized by, for example, programs,etc., executed by the CPU 601 of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate examples of the tag ID managementinformation 934 and the hospitalization information 1915 according tothe second embodiment.

FIG. 20A illustrates an example of the tag ID management information 934according to the second embodiment. The tag ID management information934 illustrated in FIG. 20A includes information of an “association ID”,in addition to the information managed in the tag ID managementinformation 934 of FIG. 12A. The “association ID” is identificationinformation used for associating the information with another database(for example, the hospitalization information 1915).

FIG. 20B illustrates an example of the hospitalization information 1915according to the second embodiment. In the example of FIG. 20B, thehospitalization information 1915 includes information such as “patientID”, “name”, and “hospital room”, etc.

The “patient ID” is identification information for identifying a patientat a hospital, etc. The “name” is information indicating the name of thepatient. The “hospital room” is information indicating the hospital roomin which the patient is hospitalized. For example, “hospital room”corresponds to “area name”, etc., in the area information 1102 of FIG.11B. The “association ID” corresponds to the “association ID” in the tagID management information 934 of FIG. 20A.

For example, in the tag ID management information 934 of FIG. 20A, thepatient B corresponds to the association ID “REF0002”. Furthermore, inthe hospitalization information 1915 of FIG. 20B, the association ID“REF0002” corresponds to the patient ID “PID3001” and the hospital room“private room A”. Accordingly, it can be determined that the patient Bis hospitalized in the private room A.

Note that in FIG. 19, the hospitalization information managing unit 1912and the hospitalization information 1915 are optional, and notessential.

<Process Flow>

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process ofproviding information according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 21,the processes of steps S1404 through S1407 and steps S1413 through S1416are the same as those of the process of providing information accordingto the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14. Therefore, the pointsthat are different from the first embodiment are mainly described below.

In step S2101, when the provision information generating unit 920 of theinformation providing server 1910 accepts a request to generate theprovision information from the display control unit 921, the provisioninformation generating unit 920 sends a request to acquire the positioninformation to the position information acquiring unit 1911. Thisacquisition request to acquire the position information includes, forexample, information such as the tag ID that is the acquisition targetand the acquisition time period, etc.

In step S2102, the position information acquiring unit 1911 of theinformation providing server 1910 sends a request to acquire theposition information including information such as the tag ID that isthe acquisition target and the acquisition time period, etc., to theposition information management server 1920.

In step S2103, the position information management server 1920 sends therequested position information to the information providing server 1910.

In step S2104, the position information acquiring unit 1911 of theinformation providing server 1910 stores the position informationreceived from the position information management server 1920, in theposition information a1914 in the storage unit 1913.

In step S2105, the provision information generating unit 920 of theinformation providing server 1910 acquires attribute information,threshold information, position information, and chart information,etc., from the storage unit 1913. These processes correspond to, forexample, the processes of steps S1408 through S1411 of FIG. 14.

In step S2106, the provision information generating unit 920 of themanagement server 130 uses the acquired attribute information andthreshold information, etc., to execute a correction process ofcorrecting the acquired position information. This process correspondsto, for example, step S1412 of FIG. 14 and the correction process of theposition information of FIGS. 15A and 15B, etc.

The subsequent processes (steps S1413 through S1416) are the same asthose of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14.

As described above, even when the information providing server 1910 isprovided outside of the position information management server 1920 formanaging the position information, the information providing server 1910can provide the provision information in the same manner as that of thefirst embodiment.

Furthermore, in a preferable example, in step S2105 of FIG. 21, theprovision information generating unit 920 may further acquire thehospitalization information 1915 from the storage unit 1913, and add thehospitalization information 1915 in step S2106, to correct the positioninformation.

For example, in the display screen 1800 of FIG. 19, when the positioninformation of a patient 1 is detected alternately in a private room Band a private room C, and the moving speed exceeds a threshold, thehospitalization information 1915 illustrated in FIG. 20A may be used todetermine that the position information detected in the private room Cis incorrect position information.

Furthermore, the provision information generating unit 920 may addvarious kinds of medical information other than the hospitalizationinformation 1915 of FIG. 20A, to correct the position information of apatient.

Another Embodiment

In the first and second embodiments, a description is given of a casewhere the floor of the indoor facility 200 is the floor of a hospital;however, the information providing system 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention may be applicable to various places other thana floor of a hospital.

For example, the floor of the indoor facility 200 may be a floor of aretail store such as a supermarket and a department store. Furthermore,the holding subject that is holding the wireless tag 124 may be, forexample, an object such as a shopping cart.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of provision information according toanother embodiment. FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a floor map 2200of a retail store where customers shop by using a shopping cart 2201. Inthe example of FIG. 22, the wireless tag 124 is attached to the shoppingcart 2201, the detection device 121 is disposed on the ceiling, etc., ofthe floor, and by forming areas, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 4,the management server 130, etc., can store position information of theshopping cart 2201 and manage the position information.

Furthermore, the management server 130, etc., uses the stored positioninformation of the shopping cart 2201, for example, to cause theinformation terminal 150 and the display device 160, etc., to displayflow line information 2202 of the shopping cart 2201 of FIG. 22, asprovision information.

Furthermore, the management server 130, etc., can provide provisioninformation indicating the usage information of the store, by a heatmap, etc., indicating the flow line information of a plurality ofshopping carts 2201 and the locations where many shopping carts 2201assemble.

Furthermore, also in a retail store as illustrated in FIG. 22, employeesof the retail store may carry the wireless tag 124, and the flow linesof the employees may be displayed as provision information on theinformation terminal 150 and the display device 160, etc.

Similarly, the information providing system 100 may also cause theinformation terminal 150 and the display device 160, etc., to display,as provision information, the present positions and the flow lines,etc., of employees and students, etc., at offices and schools, etc.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the impact ofincorrect position information on provision information can be reduced,in an information processing system for providing the provisioninformation based on position information within a predetermined timeperiod of a transmission device.

The information processing apparatus, the program product, and themethod are not limited to the specific embodiments described in thedetailed description, and variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus for providingposition information of a transmission device that sends out a signalincluding identification information of the transmission device, theinformation processing apparatus comprising a processor, incommunication with a memory, executing a process including: storing inone or more storages an identification information of the transmissiondevice in association with an attribute information, a thresholdcorresponding to the attribute information for each one of the attributeinformation, and the position information of the transmission device inassociation with the identification information of the transmissiondevice; correcting the position information using the stored attributeinformation or the threshold stored in the one or more storages; anddisplaying on a display the corrected position information.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocess further includes generating the provision information byacquiring the stored one or more position information of thetransmission device within the predetermined time period, and correctingthe acquired one or more position information with the use of theattribute information item corresponding to the identificationinformation of the transmission device or the threshold corresponding tothe attribute information item
 3. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, the process further comprising: receivingdetection information from a detection device that detects the signalsent out by the transmission device, the detection information includingthe identification information of the transmission device included inthe signal detected by the detection device; and identifying the one ormore position information of the transmission device, based on thereceived detection information.
 4. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the generating includes removing the oneor more position information, which exceed the threshold correspondingto the attribute information item of the holding subject holding thetransmission device, from the one or more position information of thetransmission device within the predetermined time period, to generatethe provision information.
 5. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the threshold includes information, whichindicates a moving speed or a movement distance, corresponding to theattribute information item.
 6. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the threshold includes information, whichindicates a management level of an area where the holding subject isable to enter, corresponding to the attribute information item.
 7. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theholding subject is a person carrying the transmission device or anobject to which the transmission device is attached.
 8. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the provisioninformation includes flow line information indicating a path along whichthe holding subject holding the transmission device has moved, orinformation of a present position of the transmission device.
 9. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, the processfurther comprising: displaying the provision information, which has beengenerated by the provision information generator, on a display device.10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe one or more position information of the transmission device arestored at predetermined time intervals.
 11. An information processingsystem for providing position information of a transmission device thatsends out a signal including identification information of thetransmission device, the information processing system including aninformation processing apparatus comprising a processor, incommunication with a memory, executing a process including: storing inone or more storage an identification information of the transmissiondevice in association with an attribute information, a thresholdcorresponding to the attribute information for each one of the attributeinformation, and the position information of the transmission device inassociation with the identification information of the transmissiondevice; correcting the position information using the stored attributeinformation or the threshold stored in the one or more storage; anddisplaying on a display the corrected position information.
 12. Aninformation processing method performed by an information processingapparatus for providing position information of a transmission devicethat sends out a signal including identification information of thetransmission device, the information processing apparatus comprising aprocessor, in communication with a memory, executing a processincluding: storing in one or more storages an identification informationof the transmission device in association with an attribute information,a threshold corresponding to the attribute information for each one ofthe attribute information, and the position information of thetransmission device in association with the identification informationof the transmission device; correcting the position information usingthe stored attribute information or the threshold stored in the one ormore storages; and displaying on a display the corrected positioninformation.